Washington - US stock markets Monday opened slightly down after a week of turmoil as investors await the outcome of the US government's proposed
700-billion-dollar government bailout of bad mortgage debt that would be an unprecedented intervention in capital markets.

At the opening bell, the Dow Jones index of blue chips was down more than 50 points, or about half a percent, at 11,337. The broad- based S&P 500 was also down more than half a percent, or 5 points, to 1,249.

Washington - The decision by Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs - the last two major US investment banks still on their feet - to become bank holding companies signals the end of high-wire finance on Wall Street.

After a year of turmoil in the financial industry that climaxed last week with bankruptcies and government takeovers, the two companies agreed to submit themselves to far tighter regulations by applying for the new status.

The US central bank late Sunday accepted the two companies' applications, pending a five-day antitrust waiting period.

New Delhi, Sept 22 : A US delegation headed by James Simpson, the Administrator of Federal Transit Administration (FTA), met the Union Minister for Urban Development, Jaipal Reddy, here today to identify opportunities for joint projects between the public transportation industries of India and the United States.

Reddy highlighted some initiatives like the Metro Rail and the Bus Rapid Transport System that have been taken up by the Urban Development Ministry.

Bangkok - Thai authorities illegally detained suspected arms' smuggler Viktor Bout and a US extradition request should be quashed, his lawyer argued in court Monday.

The United States is seeking Bout's extradition to face four charges of terrorism and judges in the Thai Criminal Court, who on Monday began hearing the case, said they would consider the move quash later.

The 41-year-old former Soviet army major was arrested in Bangkok on March 6 in a US-led sting operation that allegedly caught him making a deal with Colombian rebels.

New Delhi, Sept 22 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh left for Frankfurt enroute to New York today.

Before proceeding to New York on Tuesday, Dr. Singh will have overnight halt at Frankfurt. He will be visiting the United States and France for ten days. He will address the
63rd Session of UN General Assembly on September 26.

New York, Sept 22 : As financial crisis grip the world economy, the Wall Street’s catastrophe has trickled down to Manhattan''''s mammary meccas.